Something that was mentioned years ago (I think it was Brian?), there is a ground pattern that the original bulbs and the HID bulbs would throw that slightly proceeded on both sides of the bike. You can see it distinctly in lower right of this photo:
Yeah, they are called 'tell tales' and they are there to show the rider that the headlights are actually on and working. There is no other reason for them and they are not a functional part of the headlight, outside of being an alert of course. That said, I find most or all C-14 riders do not know they are there and so I guess they are not working to alert anyone of anything anyway. They do work with HIDs in place but I would not personally avoid a lamp that did not produce them anyway- it is easy enough to check headlight function whenever pulling up toward glass or even a constant surface such as a garage door.Thanks Brian, I didn't know they actually had a name and purpose, but I mostly mentioned them to point out the focus differences of even the good LEDs.
Thanks Brian, I didn't know they actually had a name and purpose, but I mostly mentioned them to point out the focus differences of even the good LEDs.
So Brian, after you get a C14 and get the most important farkles transferred over...are you going to finish the projector headlight project?
Bye the buy the by..all those progress photos are missing from that thread, in case Andrea is looking for something to do.
Yeah, they are called 'tell tales' and they are there to show the rider that the headlights are actually on and working. There is no other reason for them and they are not a functional part of the headlight, outside of being an alert of course.
The projector project is actually finished other than permanently attaching the lens (it is stuck there but not weatherproof). And yep, they would go into the new bike (new or used but new to me) should I get one.
I got Photobucketed when Photobucket went to a fee based plan and is holding lots 'o people's photos hostage until we pay up. I moved to Imgur but of course all the links buried in old posts do not know that :-)
I have always noticed them, but never thought they were intentional. I guessed they were just an artifact, or irregularity in the reflector.
I was wondering whatever happened with that. A projector is a more ideal solution. Compact, effective, more control. Especially nice if coupled with the advantages of an LED light source (although I know yours was an HID project) for low power, low heat, and long lifespan.
Which is why you should upload photos to the forum, rather than posting vulnerable links which will, inevitably, break
I do not believe LEDs are the best choice for low power [...] LEDs in housings and lenses made for them originally are a different story.
Yeah, my projector light housing is resting quietly. I had really forgotten about it until again looking at C-14's. The thought of farkeling up a new C-14 is a bit daunting as I think about all the junk I changed or added to my '08 and will want ALL of it on a new bike.
And another problem riding a new bike home for any distance- lots of comfort and convenience on my C-14 that allow me to ride a long way.
But that creates the problem of shipping all the brand new debris (the parts) back as well. What horrible first- world problems, eh?
P.S. To any Limeys or any English speakers who were educated in English by Limeys: In the US, we keep the first floor on the first floor. You know, the first floor one steps onto when entering the house. The English apparently have moved the first- floor to the second floor for reasons unknown. I do not know if the next floor above is the third floor or the second floor in the UK. And I have no idea what they call the first floor..... maybe the pre- first floor? The first floor B.C.? The upper basement?We call the one at Ground level, the Ground floor, the one above it the 1st floor, then 2nd floor, etc.
In the USA, most of your houses are on posts or stilts, so are raised off the ground with a crawlspace underneath most of them. If building with wood this makes sense, but if building with brick it doesn't. In the UK, wood houses are rare, brick is common.
I guess it all comes down to the locally available building materials and how you build. :-)
W.r.t. LED vs HID, I prefer the LEDs.
The biggest problem with HID in H4 form is that it requires a physical movement of the bulb, normally via a solenoid, to switch from low to high beam and in my experience this is what breaks first.
My C14 still has the OEM bulbs as I find that the light pattern is excellent and the brightness is more than adequate for my use.
I do have 2 LED 10W spots mounted on top of the mirrors that only come on with high beam.
I bought a set of LEDs for it but have never gotten round to fitting them.
I have a set of crash bars, brand new, sitting in the shipping box for better than 10 years now and they of course look brand new.